New Beginning in Store as Boxing India Prepares for September 11 Elections
Boxing India, the preliminary body recognised by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) as India's representative, will be conducting the elections, the build-up to which has been marred by allegations of manipulation.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: September 10, 2014 03:05 PM IST
Close to two years after the national federation's suspension sent Indian boxing into a downward tumble, a fresh beginning is all set to be made on Thursday with the conduct of elections to form a new governing body even though the run-up to the polls has been marred by controversies.
Boxing India, the preliminary body recognised by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) as India's representative, will be conducting the elections, the build-up to which has been marred by allegations of manipulation.
The body, which will take shape after Thursday's voting, will be called Boxing India instead of the previous Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF), terminated earlier this year after a suspension dating back to December 2012.
Two AIBA observers -- legal manager Cliodhna Guy and India's representative in the world body Kishan Narsi -- will oversee the proceedings and submit a report which would decide the fate of Boxing India.
The proceedings will be video-recorded to avoid any unsavoury phase of allegations after voting.
Once a new body takes shape Thursday, the boxers will also heave a sigh of relief as re-recognition would allow them to compete under their national flag besides increasing the invitations for exposure trips, which had all but dried up following the federation's suspension.
"Everything possible has been done to ensure transparency," Boxing India member Udit Seth had told PTI.
Boxing India is a consortium of former administrators and corporates, including CMD of long-time Indian boxing sponsor Monnet Ispat Limited, Sandeep Jajodia.
Jajodia is all set to be elected unopposed as President of the new body as no other candidate is in fray for the position.
In the final list of nominations, there are three contenders for the Secretary General's post. They are Delhi's Rohit Jain, Maharashtra's Jay Kowli and Haryana's Rakesh Thakran.
The three-way contest is expected to go down the wire as the candidates have been trading charges of manipulation.
The Treasurer's position will also witness a three-way contest. Manipur's Khoibi Salam, Assam's Hemanta Kumar Kalita and Tripura's Dr Rupak Debroy are in the fray for this position.
The run-up to the elections, which were originally scheduled for July 9, has been bumpy at best as several state units have expressed open dissatisfaction with Boxing India's handling of the responsibility.
BI has also requested the Sports Ministry and the IOA to send their observers but while the former is yet to respond, the latter has declined the proposal.
The IOA, in fact, was keen to conduct the entire process under its aegis but its request was turned down by AIBA.
If the voting goes off smoothly and the process convinces the two AIBA observers, Boxing India would be granted provisional affiliation by AIBA.
The permanent recognition will thereafter be accorded during the AIBA Congress in Jeju Islands, Korea in November.